Scheider romps to Zandvoort pole position

Timo Scheider put together a stonking lap in the final DTM (Deutsche
Tourenwagen Masters) qualifying session at Zandvoort today, to set a
time of 1:31.590 around the famed seaside circuit and take the pole for
Audi.
Timo Scheider, Audi...

Timo Scheider put together a stonking lap in the final DTM (Deutsche
Tourenwagen Masters) qualifying session at Zandvoort today, to set a
time of 1:31.590 around the famed seaside circuit and take the pole for
Audi.

Timo Scheider, Audi Sport Team Abt Audi A4 DTM .

Photo by xpb.cc.

Scheider, the defending DTM champion, has yet to make it to the podium
in 2010 in the face of strong Mercedes opposition, and sits sixth in the
points standings, behind four Mercedes drivers and his teammate Mattias
Ekstrom.

"This feels incredibly good, especially after it's been such a difficult
season so far," Scheider said. "Coming back in qualifying here at
Zandvoort, on one of my favorite tracks, is really special. Particularly
after such a difficult early phase it feels good to get everything
right."

Scheider's lap time was seven tenths faster than that of Gary Paffett,
who managed to edge his Mercedes teammate Paul di Resta in spite of
locking up his brakes early in the lap.

"With new tyres, my C-Class handled very well," Paffet recalled.
"However, with the used ones in the single-lap qualifying I was sliding
and lacked grip. The entire lap was pretty messy, and therefore second
place is OK."

Miguel Molina, Audi's Spanish rookie, took an impressive fourth position
in a 2008-spec Audi, although he was well back of Paffett and di Resta.

"A wonderful result," he exclaimed. "We did a very good job of working
with the car and came up with a nice set-up. This track suits me very
well. Now I've made it all the way into Q4 in my first year in the DTM,
which is a very difficult thing to do because all the drivers in this
championship are very good."

Championship leader Bruno Spengler, who has yet to finish a race off the
podium in 2010, will have to work hard to maintain the streak tomorrow,
as he will take the start from seventh position.

"In Q1 and Q2 my C-Class was perfect," the Canadian rued the turn of
events. "However, all of a sudden the car ran not so well in the third
part of qualifying. I don't know why yet and we will have to research
what happened."

Gary Paffett, Team HWA AMG Mercedes C-Klasse .

Photo by xpb.cc.

Spengler's fastest time in Q3, 1:31.710, was in fact more than four
tenths slower than that of Scheider, who was the final driver to make it
into the final shootout segment.

Between Spengler and the final segment were Mattias Ekstrom, Audi's only
race winner so far in 2010, and Oliver Jarvis in another Audi.

Jamie Green, who stands second in the championship points order, was
well back in 11th place with his 2008-spec Mercedes.